FAFSA, CSS Profile, and the College Financial Aid Systems Every Student Should Know

One of the biggest questions that parents and students ask every year before college starts is, “Where do I go to find eligibility for college financial aid?”. No worries, because not only are we happy to help you with this question, but we also have the best resources and information to increase your chances of finding financial aid—everything from programs like FAFSA, CSS, TAP, and more.

Send Your Kids to College can complete all of your financial aid forms if you need help, and we are able to answer any of your questions!

In this blog, we will break down where you can find eligibility for college financial aid and explain how each program benefits different types of individuals.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

When we discuss the idea of getting your foot in the door, one of the best programs to take that first step with is the FAFSA application. It’s a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. Receiving the money, the grants or loans that come with FAFSA, is all down to whether or not you’re eligible, but it’s a free application, and we recommend anyone and everyone sign up for it.

2025-2026 is seeing a newer, simpler version of FAFSA be implemented, as we have pointed out in a past blog, and many of the rules that allow for your eligibility have remained the same. They say that it’s easy to understand, but it can be confusing, and there’s not always a good line of support for future students and parents with specific questions about their FAFSA situation. 

Luckily for families in WNY, we are here to help you when it becomes difficult. Just give us a call or fill out the form on our FAFSA Page!

The CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile)

The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. As compared to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CSS profile helps to provide a more complete picture of your financial circumstances.

Just a few of those key differences include that FAFSA is free as compared to CSS, and you don’t have to share as much detailed financial information. FAFSA is for federal aid, and CSS is mostly for private universities, so even international students can use it. Essentially, CSS is a more intensive version of FAFSA that requires significantly more from you.

One of the most unique aspects of CSS that may go unnoticed is how it handles the parental signing of the forms. Both biological parents are required to submit their information even if they are married, separated, or divorced. Each parent will not have the information shared between them as well. 

It’s important information like that that you must make sure you’re up to date on concerning what each financial aid system provides before finalizing your decision.

TAP (Tuition Assistance Program)

We mainly work here within New York State, and one of the main types of grant programs that this state uses is called TAP, or Tuition Assistance Program. It’s a program for residents in the state to help pay for college at approved institutions such as SUNY, CUNY, and non-profit colleges. 

It’s essentially “free money” where you can receive up to $1,000 - $5,000 in rewards if you’re eligible based on combined income, including family-earned income and pensions, the number of family members enrolled in college, or the cost of tuition. It helps to reduce reliance on loans, decreases how much you have to pay for tuition that’s out of pocket, and, given its reward, it offers a great deal of accessibility for those who enroll in it.

For more information, go to our FAFSA/TAP Help page!

Scholarships Count Too!

Yes, scholarships also count as a form of college financial aid! Normally, scholarships are awarded to those students who are among the most eligible to receive them, and so they work for specific groups of people, and maybe those who sign up for FAFSA, CSS, or TAP can’t get into them.

Thankfully, Send Your Kids to College has the necessary tools and information to help you understand what scholarships are best, especially here in Western New York. Our Young Achievers Scholarship is the primary scholarship that we award every year. It’s a scholarship we recommend everyone apply for!

For more information on our WNY and National scholarships, read here - WNY Scholarships / National Scholarships

Do Any of These Work for International Students?

If you’re an international student and live in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, you will not be eligible for FAFSA or TAP, but you can be eligible for the CSS Profile. A way that you can get into the TAP program is if you came into the U.S. under the New York State Dream Act. It allows undocumented and other eligible students who attended a New York high school and meet specific criteria to qualify for state-administered financial aid. 

For all the students and parents who are going through this part of college preparation, international or here in the U.S., we acknowledge the concerns that come from finding the best avenues for eligible financial aid. 

Remember, Send Your Kids to College can help with these frustrating forms, and when you have questions, you can always contact us by phone or fill out the form on the FAFSA page! Remember to follow us on Facebook & LinkedIn for more tips for families of WNY!